닭
dak[ta̠k̚]
The English word "chicken" is translated into Korean as 닭 (dak).
The word 닭 is used to refer to the living bird or chicken in a general sense. When you are talking specifically about chicken meat, you use the word 닭고기.
Meaning: bird (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term for chicken meat, 닭고기, is a compound of 닭 (chicken) and 고기 (meat).
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the animal and the food dish. Use 닭 when referring to the living bird, but use the loanword 치킨 when ordering fried chicken at a restaurant. While 닭 is the general term for the animal or meat, 치킨 refers specifically to the prepared dish of fried chicken.
How do you pronounce it?
dak
Did you know?
- In Korea, the concept of 'chicken' is so central to social life that there is a specific term, 치맥 (chimaek), which blends the words for 'chicken' and 'beer'.
- In traditional Korean culture, the 닭 is often associated with the dawn and the driving away of evil spirits because of its loud crowing.
- The word 닭 shares a potential linguistic ancestor with the Mongolian word тахиа, suggesting a deep historical connection between the languages.
Examples in context
- 부엌가위를 써서 닭고기에서 껍질을 제거합시다.Use kitchen scissors to remove the skin from the chicken.This sentence shows how to use 닭 when discussing preparing meat.Tatoeba #11107010 by intertime, translation #830710 by papabear
- 닭을 못 먹는다고? 먹어보지도 않고 어떻게 알지?You can't eat chicken? How do you know if you never try it?This sentence uses 닭 to refer to the food being eaten.Tatoeba #2110830 by JanAson, translation #40236 by CM
- 닭 요리를 좋아하세요?Do you like chicken dishes?
- 오늘은 닭으로 요리해.Today, I am cooking chicken.
- 닭이 울고 있어요.dal-i ul-go iss-eo-yo.The chicken is crowing.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Subin are walking through a small countryside farm.
- 지훈 Ji-hun저기 닭이 정말 많네요.jeo-gi dal-i jeong-mal man-ne-yo.There are so many chickens over there.
- 수빈 Su-bin맞아요, 아주 건강해 보여요.ma-ja-yo, a-ju geon-gang-hae bo-yeo-yo.You're right, they look very healthy.
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈 씨는 닭을 좋아해요?Su-bin ssi-neun dal-eul jo-a-hae-yo?Subin, do you like chickens?
- 수빈 Su-bin네, 귀여워서 좋아해요.ne, gwi-yeo-wo-seo jo-a-hae-yo.Yes, I like them because they are cute.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations and entries 닭, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 닭, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
